Method and system for vendor communication
First Claim
1. A method in a computer system for communication related to an outsourced task assigned to a vendor by an enterprise, comprising:
- receiving at least one enterprise user input through a user interface to create an outsourced task, wherein the enterprise user input comprises a definition of the outsourced task and an identification of the vendor;
presenting an enterprise user with at least one checklist to be completed, wherein the at least one checklist refers to predefined restrictions;
receiving an enterprise user input that completes the at least one checklist;
evaluating the complete checklist for compliance with the predefined restrictions;
when the checklist is determined to comply with the predefined restrictions, setting a status of the outsourced task to “
initiated”
, receiving at least one vendor input through the user interface, wherein the at least one vendor input comprises an indication of at least one vendor action related to completing the outsourced task;
setting a status of the task to indicate a current point in a predefined outsourced task lifecycle; and
storing data related to the outsourced task lifecycle in a vendor application database, including the enterprise inputs and the vendor inputs.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and system for vendor communication is provided. The method and system allow management and documentation of the lifecycle of a contract that is outsourced to a vendor by and enterprise. Embodiments include a vendor communication software application (“VC” application) that centralizes documentation of communications between enterprise actors and vendor actors and any actions by any actor during execution of tasks associated with an outsourced package. The VC application provides a single point of input for information related to an outsourced package that can be used by the actors. Interactions with the VC application take place during the execution of the task in order to move the execution of the task forward, effectively forcing compliance with package requirements and the documentation of the same. The VC application is also compatible with legacy systems so that legacy data can be efficiently used. In one embodiment, the VC application is a hosted Internet application.
38 Citations
41 Claims
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1. A method in a computer system for communication related to an outsourced task assigned to a vendor by an enterprise, comprising:
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receiving at least one enterprise user input through a user interface to create an outsourced task, wherein the enterprise user input comprises a definition of the outsourced task and an identification of the vendor;
presenting an enterprise user with at least one checklist to be completed, wherein the at least one checklist refers to predefined restrictions;
receiving an enterprise user input that completes the at least one checklist;
evaluating the complete checklist for compliance with the predefined restrictions;
when the checklist is determined to comply with the predefined restrictions, setting a status of the outsourced task to “
initiated”
,receiving at least one vendor input through the user interface, wherein the at least one vendor input comprises an indication of at least one vendor action related to completing the outsourced task;
setting a status of the task to indicate a current point in a predefined outsourced task lifecycle; and
storing data related to the outsourced task lifecycle in a vendor application database, including the enterprise inputs and the vendor inputs. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 15)
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2. The method of 1, further comprising:
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periodically searching a legacy database for legacy data related to outsourced tasks, wherein the information was entered using a legacy method; and
incorporating the legacy data into the vendor application database according to respective related outsourced tasks.
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3. The method of 1, further comprising:
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receiving an enterprise user input that comprises an assignment of the outsourced task to a vendor drafter/engineer; and
setting the status of the task to “
assigned”
.
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13. The method of claim 121, further comprising:
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receiving vendor input comprising an indication that the action item has been performed; and
setting the status of the task to “
action taken”
. - View Dependent Claims (14, 16)
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17. A. method in a network for communication related to a task outsourced to a vendor by an enterprise, comprising:
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presenting a user interface to different enterprise actors depending on an enterprise actor'"'"'s level of privilege;
presenting at least one form to the enterprise actor to facilitate collection of specific data related to the task, wherein the specific data includes, a vendor to perform the task, a completion date of the task, import and export restrictions applicable to the task, feedback to the vendor regarding vendor performance, a specific action to be performed, whether the task performed by the vendor is satisfactory, and whether the task is complete;
presenting the user interface to different vendor actors depending on a vendor actor'"'"'s level of privilege;
presenting at least one form to the vendor actor to facilitate collection of specific data related to the task, wherein the specific data includes, the vendor has assigned the task to a vendor actor;
the vendor requires more information;
a delivery of the task is in danger due to specific circumstances;
and a specific required action has been taken;
setting a status of the task dependent upon the data collected; and
storing all of the data related to the task. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. The method of 20, wherein the enterprise actor comprises:
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an enterprise drafting manager;
an enterprise drafter/engineer;
an enterprise general manager; and
an application administrator that administers an application that comprises the user interface.
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22. A computer-readable medium containing a vendor communication application and a data structure for defining a lifecycle of an outsourced task that is outsourced by an enterprise to a vendor, the data structure comprising:
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a plurality of status definitions, wherein each of the status definitions indicates a stage in the task lifecycle;
a plurality of user definitions, wherein each of the user definitions indicates one of a group selected from, enterprise users including enterprise managers enterprise drafter/engineers, and at least one enterprise administrator, wherein the enterprise administrator administers the vendor communication application and the data structure; and
vendor users including vendor managers and vendor drafter engineers; and
a plurality of privilege levels assigned to the plurality of users, wherein the plurality of users access the data structure using the vendor communication application to input data related to the task lifecycle. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A system for managing and documenting a lifecycle of an outsourced task that is outsourced to a vendor by an enterprise, the system comprising:
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at least one server that runs a vendor communication (“
VC”
) application, wherein a plurality of enterprise users and vendor users access the VC application input data regarding the lifecycle of the task;
at least one vendor application database that contains information regarding the task; and
at least one legacy database that contains information regarding tasks previously documented using a legacy application, wherein the VC application accesses the legacy database to automatically extract data regarding the previously documented tasks, and wherein the extracted data is integrated by the VC application into the VC database.
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28. The system of 27, further comprising an active broker that communicates with the VC application, the VC database, and the legacy database, wherein the active broker brokers objects between the VC application and the VC database and between the VC application and the legacy database.
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29. The system of 27, wherein the VC application is accessed by a plurality of users according to a user hierarchy, the user hierarchy comprising:
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at least one enterprise user, wherein the at least one enterprise user is associated with at least one enterprise group and at least one enterprise unit; and
at least one vendor user, wherein the at least one vendor user is associated with at least one vendor unit. - View Dependent Claims (30)
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31. A. method in a network for communication related to a task outsourced to a vendor by an enterprise, comprising:
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communicating with at least one enterprise server, comprising accessing a vendor communication application;
receiving data from the at least one enterprise server, wherein the data comprises information regarding the outsourced task and a vendor application user interface;
presenting different screens of the vendor application user interface to different vendor actors depending on a vendor actor'"'"'s level of privilege;
presenting at least one form to the vendor actor to facilitate collection of specific data related to the task, wherein the specific data includes, the vendor has assigned the task to a vendor actor;
the vendor requires more information;
a delivery of the task is in danger due to specific circumstances; and
a specific required action has been taken;
setting a status of the task dependent upon the data collected; and
sending all of the data related to the task to the at least one enterprise server. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33)
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34. A. method in a network for communication related to a task outsourced to a vendor by an enterprise, comprising:
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presenting a user interface to different enterprise actors depending on an enterprise actor'"'"'s level of privilege;
presenting at least one form to the enterprise actor to facilitate collection of specific data related to the task, wherein the specific data includes, a vendor to perform the task, a completion date of the task, import and export restrictions applicable to the task, feedback to the vendor regarding vendor performance, a specific action to be performed, whether the task performed by the vendor is satisfactory, and whether the task is complete;
sending data to at least one vendor computer via the network, wherein the data includes the user interface;
receiving data regarding the task from the at least one vendor computer via the network, wherein the data is entered by a vendor actor at the at least one vendor computer with the user interface;
setting a status of the task dependent upon the data collected; and
storing all of the data related to the task. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36)
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37. The method of 34, wherein the enterprise actor comprises:
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an enterprise drafting manager;
an enterprise drafter/engineer;
an enterprise general manager; and
an application administrator that administers an application that comprises the user interface.
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38. A system for managing and documenting a lifecycle of an outsourced task that is outsourced to a vendor by an enterprise, the system comprising:
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at least one server means that runs a vendor communication (“
VC”
) application, wherein a plurality of enterprise users and vendor users access the VC application input data regarding the lifecycle of the task;
at least one vendor application database means that contains information regarding the task; and
at least one legacy database means that contains information regarding tasks previously documented using a legacy application, wherein the VC application accesses the legacy database to automatically extract data regarding the previously documented tasks, and wherein the extracted data is integrated by the VC application into the VC database.
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39. The system of 38, further comprising an active broker means that communicates with the VC application, the VC database, and the legacy database, wherein the active broker means brokers objects between the VC application and the VC database and between the VC application and the legacy database.
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40. The system of 38, wherein the VC application is accessed by a plurality of users according to a user hierarchy, the user hierarchy comprising:
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at least one enterprise user, wherein the at least one enterprise user is associated with at least one enterprise group and at least one enterprise unit; and
at least one vendor user, wherein the at least one vendor user is associated with at least one vendor unit. - View Dependent Claims (41)
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Specification